From a UA Athletic Department release: On the eve of its first practice, The University of Akron men's soccer team is ranked No. 8 in the country, according to a preseason poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Tuesday.

Defending NCAA champion Indiana will begin the 2013 campaign where it finished the previous season – at No. 1 – while Maryland, Georgetown, North Carolina and Connecticut round of the nation's top five programs. VCU, which will visit FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Sept. 13 as part of The University of Akron Tournament, comes in at No. 24.

Tuesday marked the first full day of team activities for the Zips, who swept Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament titles in 2012. Akron will officially hit the field for the first time Wednesday for the first of eight, two-a-day practices leading up to its season-opening weekend at the College of Charleston Tournament from Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

Fans will have two opportunities to see the Zips in action before that happens however. Akron will host an open-to-the-public, intrasquad scrimmage this Friday, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, then welcome Marshall for its first of two exhibition matches next Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. ET. There is no charge for the intrasquad scrimmage while the exhibition match is a ticketed event.

From a UA Athletic Department news release: The University of Akron men's basketball team has been selected to take part in the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon, facing Saint Mary's College at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 3 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

This is the first time that the Zips have been selected for the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon and Akron is one of two Mid-American Conference teams participating in this year's event (Kent State at Temple). The contest is part of a made-for-TV event that includes more than a dozen games in more than 24 consecutive hours of basketball.

The first day in full pads painted a better picture of what this team will look like in the coming weeks.

Even casual observers who chatted me up mentioned there being a notable difference in appearance – meaning size and speed. It is an accurate observation. There was plenty to like in the first session with full pads:

Day four of Akron Zips fall camp livened up just a little bit as the players look acclimated to being back in training.

Defensive lineman Moses McCray, a senior transfer from Florida State, finished the day with his forehead bandaged. He is business on the field from what could be seen in drills, but when a play is over, it’s over. He looks to be able to turn the intensity on and off.

Making an impression: For anyone who follows freshman Mykel Traylor-Bennett on Twitter, they know that the Reynoldsburg native arrived on campus for summer school and has been working independently with the team’s quarterbacks, including presumed starter Kyle Pohl. It looks as if the extra sweat is leading to success. Of the recruiting class of 2013, there’s little doubt he’s standing out. The 6-foot-4, 200 lbs. wide receiver definitely possesses the skill set to play wide receiver, snagging everything that’s catchable out of the air. Coaches have noticed too.

“Because of what he's shown, we've got to get him the ball. When we get him in any kind of scrimmage situations, we have to get him the football to see if he can make plays,” coach Terry Bowden said.